Invention Project Help

[ry3lamp]

Hello, this is my first post here, so I hope I am posting this on the correct message board.

My son is working on an invention project for his class. His idea is to make a small box that will hold speakers (8 ohm size) that he can plug into his iPod. I know they have products similar to this, but this is what he wants to do. He also wants to add an LED light (or 2) that light-up when he plugs the iPod into the audio out jack.

Now that you know the background, my question is this even possible using the audio out port? I know it will work for the speakers, but as for the LED lights is another issue. If it is possible does anyone have a good resource where I can purchase the parts and the part names?

Thank you.

[Louise]

Hello, this is my first post here, so I hope I am posting this on the correct message board.

My son is working on an invention project for his class. His idea is to make a small box that will hold speakers (8 ohm size) that he can plug into his iPod. I know they have products similar to this, but this is what he wants to do. He also wants to add an LED light (or 2) that light-up when he plugs the iPod into the audio out jack.

Now that you know the background, my question is this even possible using the audio out port? I know it will work for the speakers, but as for the LED lights is another issue. If it is possible does anyone have a good resource where I can purchase the parts and the part names?

Thank you.

Radio shack is probably the easiest place to buy leds and such. If the ipod can power a speaker, it can power an LED. But I imagine the speakers usually have an external power supply (like plug in to the wall or batteries), otherwise, I would think the battery would drain very quickly.

An interesting site is:
http://www.instructables.com/

I've seen instructions for building a charger unit for an ipod there, and they have some excellent diagrams for wiring LEDs for various projects. The site seems to be very slow today, so I cannot give specific links.

Also, I would recommend that you visit the site first before you let your son look around. The content is user generated, and while I haven't seen anything objectionable, I cannot be certain it is completely clean.

Louise

[ghariman]

Hi there,

Radioshack is a good place, but not the best.

If you could try to track down a "Electronics Hobby/Surplus Shop" around where you live then that would be the best place to go as the people there normally are very knowlegable on their subject. Most likely they worked in electronics a long time and have built many electronics hobby project themselves. Plus normally there are 100x more electronics part there as opposed to Radio Shack (and cheaper).

Around where I live the famous one is called HSC and their website is:
http://www.halted.com

Good luck